PERTH: Usman Khawaja‘s constant departures from the field for Australia caused havoc for the batting lineup after he was unable to open on day one of the first Ashes Test.
Khawaja’s final disappearance ended when he returned after Brydon Carse was dismissed. The 38-year-old showed no signs of limping or discomfort and walked out calmly.
England only lasted one more over, with Jamie Smith and Mark Wood both departing as the away side was bowled out for 172. Khawaja did not rush off while Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne did, and alas, he didn’t open.
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Steve Smith was seen frustrated on the field before Carse was out, signalling for Khawaja to get back on the field.
“Steve Smith is motioning, saying, ‘We need Usman out on the ground’,” commentator Mark Howard said on Fox Cricket.
“There’s certain time constraints where you’re not allowed to open the batting (if you’ve been off too long).”
Steve Smith signalling to the dressing room for Usman Khawaja to return. Fox Cricket
Originally, Khawaja’s departures were put down to a combination of toilet breaks and stiffness.
Post-match, Mitchell Starc, who took seven wickets, confirmed it was more down to back issues.
The fast bowler revealed he wasn’t aware of a problem until England’s ninth wicket fell.
“He had a back spasm there the second time he came off, so we got caught off guard a little bit with the batting … it’s just unfortunate that was the case,” he said in his press conference.
Under the laws of cricket, a player can be off for eight minutes of time and it won’t impact their ability to bowl or bat.
Usman Khawaja during the first Test. Getty
However, any longer than eight minutes and you’ve got to be on the field for the length of playing time absent before you can bowl or bat. In Usman’s case, he has to wait in the sheds for the amount of time bowled by England, too.
As a result, Khawaja didn’t head out to bat, with Marnus Labuschagne opening instead.
On the ABC, Tom Moody described it as “poor management” and “beyond a joke”.
The man who was meant to be his opening partner, Jake Weatherald, was gone for a debut second-ball duck.
Khawaja still couldn’t come out, and it was Steve Smith batting instead at No.3.
Conditions were tough for batting, and it took 4.4 overs before a run was scored.
Khawaja eventually came to the crease in the 15th over after Marnus Labuschagne (9) was bowled.
David Warner noted Khawaja’s approach from the pavilion to the crease was slower than normal, observing “discomfort” in his former opening partner’s stride.
Khawaja watched Steve Smith (17) depart and then left himself for 2 after gloving behind a vicious Brydon Carse delivery.
Usman Khawaja batting on day one. Getty
The veteran’s wicket made it 4-31 in the 18th over to have Australia in deep trouble.
Carse had taken two of those wickets while Jofra Archer snared two as well.
Travis Head and Cameron Green combined for a 45-run partnership before Head attempted a dreadful pull shot off Ben Stokes’ bowling and was caught by Carse for 21.
Stokes did it again when he had Green behind for 24 to put Australia in disarray.
The England skipper then had three wickets when Mitchell Starc hit a ball straight down Carse’s throat at mid-on with the score 7-118.
Alex Carey (26) and Scott Boland (0) both fell late too, delivering Stokes a five-wicket haul with Australia finishing 9-123 at stumps.
